Lens fans banned from Anfield for Champions League clash with Liverpool after flares chaos

FootballSports
28 Oct 2026 • 1:43 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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Lens fans banned from Anfield for Champions League clash with Liverpool after flares chaos

Lens supporters have been banned from attending a Champions League fixture against Liverpool at Anfield after Uefa's appeals judges barred the French club from selling them tickets for away games in the competition.

The ban will be served when Lens travel to Leipzig on 24 November and to Liverpool at Anfield on 27 January, with a third game ban deferred for a two-year probationary period.

The ruling on Tuesday came after Lens fans lit dozens of flares and threw some toward rival supporters and the field during the team's Champions League game at Club Brugge last week, forcing the match to be stopped briefly.

Lens went on to lose the match 3-0, and they are currently 27th in the league phase table after taking three points from three matches so far.

Lens fans have been banned from attending two Champions League away matches (AP)

The club was already on probation by Uefa for fans lighting flares and fireworks at a previous Champions League game at Slavia Prague in September.

Uefa said Lens have been fined 80,000 euros (£67,000) for charges of “lighting and throwing of pyrotechnics as well as for acts of damage.”

The ticket ban covers two Champions League away games, Uefa confirmed.

The ruling means Liverpool will play January’s match with only their own fans inside the stadium as they aim to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages.

Andoni Iraola’s men have taken maximum points from their opening three fixtures and are third in the Champions League standings behind PSG and Aston Villa.

The Reds have also found form in the Premier League, having only lost one of their first eight matches in England’s top-flight this season.

A 2-0 win over Brighton on Sunday lifted Liverpool into fourth place, just a point behind the Seagulls and six adrift of Manchester City and Arsenal.

Liverpool are due to return to Champions League action next week when they face Turkish side Fenerbahce away from home. This follows a Carabao Cup clash with Chelsea on Wednesday before a mouthwatering league match against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday.

Their final game before the November international break will be a trip to Crystal Palace on 8 November.

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